WASHINGTON, DC - The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) views the introduction by U.S. Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) of a comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) bill today as an important step in creating momentum for an overhaul of our nation's broken immigration system.

The bill, introduced in the House of Representatives, contains many core principles which immigration advocates consider vital to any comprehensive immigration reform bill, including a pathway to legalization for undocumented workers and students, family unity and labor provisions, smarter and more effective enforcement, and worker verification systems that work. According to the sponsors, CIR for America's Security and Prosperity Act 2009 (CIR ASAP) as it will be known prioritizes the best of what our nation values: family, civil rights, economic opportunity and diversity. It is the product of months of collaboration with human rights advocates, labor organizations, and members of Congress.

"We know how dedicated Rep. Gutierrez is to immigration reform," commented Bernie Wolfsdorf, president of AILA. "Gutierrez has long been a strong and vocal leader in the CIR movement. We look forward to analyzing this new CIR bill and hope to work with him and other members of Congress to fix our nation's dysfunctional immigration system and help spur the country back to economic recovery."

AILA looks forward to Rep. Gutierrez's leadership on this important issue in the months ahead and hopes his action will provide the catalyst needed to bring about long overdue reforms. Recent positive comments by the DHS Secretary Napolitano and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) further indicate that Congress and the Obama administration are fully committed to begin the difficult task of bringing multiple stakeholders together to craft a measure that will benefit our national interest now and for the future. "It's time for politicians to do more than talk. It's time to walk the walk. Its time to do the smart thing and the right thing," stated Wolfsdorf.

Already, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and members of the Congressional Black Caucus have endorsed it as a solution to both stem illegal immigration and promote legal migration that will protect and strengthen our nation's economic and national security.

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The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.